Project 10073 Record Card and Incident Report — Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 15 August 1952

This document comprises a series of reports and administrative records concerning an Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) sighting at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, on the night of August 14-15, 1952. Several airmen, including A/2C Vierra, A/2C Stindberg, and A/1C Smith, reported observing two brilliant, lavender-colored objects that appeared to move with 'incredable speed' and perform maneuvers such as zig-zagging and hovering, which the witnesses felt were beyond the capabilities of known aircraft. The objects were described as having no sound and no visible trail, and at times, they appeared to be at the altitude of stars. The witnesses reported the incident to the Staff Duty Officer at Hq Tenth Air Force, and one witness noted that a P-94 jet aircraft was scrambled to intercept the objects, though it was unable to match their performance. The documentation includes the official Project 10073 record card, individual witness statements, a sketch of the flight path, and a final evaluation by 2nd Lt. George H. Janczenski. Despite the witnesses' detailed descriptions of non-conventional flight characteristics, the official conclusion reached by the investigating officer was that the sightings were caused by a Rawinsonde (weather balloon) released by Detachment 12-4 of the 12th Weather Squadron at 0500Z on August 15, 1952. The report notes that the 61st AC&W Squadron at Selfridge reported no unusual radar observations during the time of the sightings. The document provides a clear view of the military's standard reporting and evaluation process for UAP incidents during the early 1950s, highlighting the discrepancy between witness accounts of anomalous behavior and the official attribution to conventional meteorological equipment.